Quercus ‘QPMTF2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Quercus phellos tree named ‘QPMTF2’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive small, dark green foliage. The canopy of the tree is dense and broadly pyramidal. Foliage is held on the tree long into Fall. The new variety is a Quercus tree, typically used for landscapes and gardens.

Latin name of the genus and species: Quercus phellos.

Variety denomination: ‘QPMTF2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety was discovered growing as a seedling among a group ofopen-pollinated Quercus phellos trees at a tree farm in Washington, Ga.The inventor made this discovery in 2009. The exact seed and pollenparents cannot be identified.

Asexual reproduction by grafting of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ was firstperformed during summer of 2010 at a farm in Washington, Ga. The cleftgrafting system developed by the inventor has resulted in progeny thathave proven the characteristics of the new variety to be geneticallystable. This grafting process involved taking cuttings in February,being grafted, and being placed in calloused chambers for approximatelythree weeks. They are then moved into 3″×6″ tree band pots and placed inhumidity chambers for approximately four weeks. Furthermore, theseobservations have confirmed that the new variety represents a new andimproved variety of Quercus phellos tree as particularly evidenced bythe smaller leaf, darker more dense willow oak, holds foliage longer,dark green mature growth against bright new growth, and dominant centralleader. These genetic traits can be consistently reproduced by asexualpropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘QPMTF2’ grown in Washington, Ga. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘QPMTF2’ as a new anddistinct Quercus phellos cultivar:

-   -   1. Small foliage.    -   2. Dark green foliage.    -   3. Holds foliage longer into the Fall than commercially known        varieties.    -   4. Dark green mature growth against bright new growth.    -   5. Dominant central leader.    -   6. Dense canopy.

PARENT COMPARISON

The parent varieties cannot be specifically identified.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ are similar to plants of Quercusphellos ‘QPSTJ’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,922, in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ differ inthe following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a broader canopy than this comparator.    -   2. The new variety holds its leaves longer into Fall than this        comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ are similar to plants of Quercusphellos ‘QPSTA’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,677, in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ differ inthe following:

-   -   1. The new variety has smaller foliage than this comparator.    -   2. The new variety holds its leaves longer into Fall than this        comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ are similar to plants of Quercusphellos ‘QPSTB’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,321, in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ differ inthe following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a broader canopy than this comparator.    -   2. The new variety holds its leaves longer into Fall than this        comparator.    -   3. The new variety has yellow Fall foliage; this comparator has        red Fall foliage.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ are similar to plants of Quercusphellos ‘RT3’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,444, in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ differ inthe following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a broader canopy than this comparator.    -   2. The new variety holds its leaves longer into Fall than this        comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ are similar to plants of Quercusphellos ‘QPMTF’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,217, in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘QPMTF2’ differ inthe following:

-   -   1. The new variety has smaller foliage than this comparator.    -   2. The new variety holds its leaves longer into Fall than this        comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates a tree of the newvariety at about 7 years of age.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the trunk surface.

FIG. 3 illustrates a view of the foliage.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘QPMTF2’ plants grown outdoors and in anursery in Washington, Ga. Plants are approximately 2 years old, in a 3gallon nursery container. Temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. atnight to 18° C. to 27° C. during the day. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Quercus phellos ‘QPMTF2’.

PROPAGATION

-   Cleft grafting.-   Root description: Woody. Brown roots not accurately measured with an    R.H.S. Colour chart.

TREE

-   Growth habit: Deciduous broad pyramidal tree.-   Height: Approximately 14 feet at 3 years.-   Spread: Approximately 4 feet at 3 years.-   Aspect and angle: Branches at 45 degrees or more from center.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Trunk characteristics:    -   -   Diameter.—About 3 inches measured at approximately 3 inches            above soil level at 3 years.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Green 198A, 198C with blotches Black            202A.        -   Surface texture.—Furrowed and scaly.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate or narrow elliptic.        -   Average length.—Average 7.5 cm to 8.5 cm excluding petiole.        -   Average width.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Tapered.        -   Margin.—Entire        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of lower surface.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Young foliage: Upper side: Near RHS Green 143A. Under            side: Near RHS Green 143B. Mature foliage: Upper side: Near            RHS Green 139A. Under side: Near RHS Green 137A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Color: Venation color upper side:            Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Venation color under side: Near            RHS Yellow-Green N144A.        -   Petiole.—Length: Average 1 cm. Diameter: Average 2 mm.            Color: Upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Under side:            Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.

FLOWER

-   Not observed.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Not observed.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests of Quercus has been observed.-   Drought tolerance: No tolerance for drought observed. Quercus    phellos can be moderately drought tolerance once established.-   Temperature tolerance: USDA Zones 6 through 9.-   Fruits/nuts: Not observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Quercus phellostree named ‘QPMTF2’ as herein illustrated and described.